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History of Malawi

Nyasaland became independent in 1964 and was renamed Malawi. 3 eras, 1480 to today.

Maravi, 1480–1870 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Maravi Empire or Maravi Confederacy was a Chewa polity that controlled what is now central and southern Malawi, parts of Mozambique, and eastern Zambia, from at least the early 15th century to the mid-19th century. The empire was headed by the Kalonga, with other leaders paying tribute, often in the form of ivory. In the 18th century, the system of succession broke down as a long-term consequence of Nyangu and the royal family's separation from the Kalonga in Mankhamba, leading to internal conflict and disintegration. Frequent slave raiding from Yao chiefs in the 19th century culminated in the death of the last Kalonga, Sosola, in battle in the late 1860s.

Seat of power: Mankhamba

Nyasaland, 1907–1964 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Nyasaland Protectorate was a British protectorate in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Its administration was headed by a Governor, appointed by the British Government and responsible to the Colonial Office. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. After the Federation was dissolved, Nyasaland became independent from Britain on 6 July 1964 and was renamed Malawi.

Seat of power: Zomba

Rulers

Malawi, 1964 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

In 1964, Nyasaland became independent under Prime Minister Hastings Banda and was renamed Malawi. Under a new constitution, Malawi became a republic in 1966 with Banda as its first president. The new government formally made Malawi a one-party state with the MCP as the only legal party. After the introduction of a multi-party system in 1993, Banda lost the 1994 general election, and the country has continued to experience peaceful transitions of power.

Seat of power: Lilongwe

Rulers

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.